The City is seeking to fill the City Manager’s job, after the announcement June 14 that Jim Atkinson will leave that position after 3 ½ years.
Mr. Atkinson turned in his letter of resignation to the BOC (Board of Commissioners), noting he is blessed to be leaving on friendly terms, but he has a good opportunity to get back into planning.
He has been with the City of Lakeland over 13 years, he said, with 3 ½ years as City Manager. He said he is extremely proud of city staff and he will still be in Lakeland and his children will still go to Lakeland schools, the best in the State.
He has accepted a job with Lakeland-based A2H and said he is not on a particular timeframe and will help with the transition to a new city manager.
Job details
The City of Lakeland is currently seeking an experienced, creative and energetic candidate for the position of City Manager. Lakeland is home to a population of 13,000 residents located in the Memphis metro area. Lakeland offers high-quality family-oriented neighborhoods with quick access to regional amenities, dining and leisure activities. Lakeland operates a municipal school district that is ranked as one of the top school systems in the state of Tennessee.
The City Manager is responsible for the day to day operations of the city with 47 full time employees and 3 part-time employees covering Administration, Planning, Engineering, Wastewater, Public Works, Finance and Parks and Recreation.
The FY19 budget totals $15 million. As a Manager/Commission form of government, the City Manager is appointed and serves the Board of Commissioners, consisting of a Mayor, Vice-Mayor and three Commissioners elected at large. Police and Fire services are currently provided by Shelby County. However, the City has recently established a Lakeland Fire Department, which will begin service on July 1, 2019. The City also established a municipal court to speed code enforcement cases, which will begin service in July 2018. There are currently four residential subdivisions under active development, and several more that are expected to start construction in 2018-19, including the Lake District, a $400 million mixed use development on 160 acres.
The ideal candidate is an experienced management professional with 3-5 years as a city manager, assistant manager or senior level department head with proven leadership skills in the areas of planning, economic development, fiscal management and personnel management. Customer service is paramount to the City of Lakeland, and skills in dealing with the public, contractors, developers, and elected officials are essential. The candidate must be a strong communicator, driven, and goal oriented.
The selected candidate must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in public administration, business administration, city planning or a related field. A master’s degree in public administration or related field is preferred.
Salary is dependent upon experience and qualifications. Residency in Lakeland is required within a reasonable period.
The application deadline is July 20.
Interested parties should submit a resume and cover letter to the Lakeland City Attorney’s office, either by mail or email.
Chris Patterson, City Attorney
cpatterson@wisemanbray.com
Wiseman Bray, PLLC
Lakeland City Manager Search
8001 Centerview Parkway, Suite 103
Memphis, TN, 38018
